Skills-based recruitment on the rise, high demand in specialist areas but a decline in DEI roles: Frazer Jones Pulse Q2 2024

July 23, 2024

Global vacancies

This data shows how the number of roles has changed by specialism compared to the last quarter.

“Global hiring priorities present a mixed picture. Employee relations roles are in higher demand across North America, Europe and Australia. Reward positions show strong activity in most markets and payroll roles have increased globally, driven by complex regulations and the need for robust, often global, management systems. However, hiring in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) has notably declined over the past year. This trend stems from cost-saving measures and the distribution of DEI responsibilities across multiple HR positions, rather than concentrating them in dedicated roles.”

Nick Croucher | Partner | Head of UK and Ireland

“The global market for highly skilled talent remains robust. As companies adopt tech-first approaches, new skill set requirements are emerging, intensifying market competition. Consequently, we’re seeing increased demand for reward professionals across most regions globally. Our clients are focusing on implementing competitive total rewards strategies while simultaneously maintaining close control over costs.”

Brad Law | Partner | Head of North America

Global mobility

This data shows the top locations we’ve moved HR professionals from and to.

“Despite strong “return to office” trends, clients are increasingly flexible about where talent is based. There’s a significant shift towards skill-based strategies to build competitive advantage. Consequently, companies are more willing to expand their talent searches geographically, allowing access to diverse skill sets and enhancing overall capabilities.”

Nick Croucher | Partner | Head of UK and Ireland

Days to offer

This data shows the number of days on average clients are taking to hire.

“After a notable increase in hiring speed in Q1, processes have slightly slowed, with the average time to hire now at 22 days. Despite this small deceleration, the time to hire remains faster than in previous quarters. The marginal increase in hiring time, while noteworthy, does not detract from the overall trend of accelerated recruitment efforts observed in Q2. Organisations continue to emphasise the importance of filling key roles swiftly, recognising the critical impact that timely recruitment has on operational effectiveness and long-term business success.”

Sean Tong | Partner | Head of Asia

Days to withdraw

This data shows how long a candidate stays in a recruitment process before withdrawing if a decision has not been made.

“Our data shows that candidate behaviour has largely mirrored that of Q1 this year, suggesting that candidate expectations remain high and competition for top talent is fierce, with many candidates engaging in multiple processes. Companies wishing to hire must therefore act quickly to secure their chosen candidate.”

Lisanne Muns | Group Manager | Head of Benelux

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